National Business

SILVER SPRING, Md. — More Americans signed contracts to buy homes in March after two months of declines, pointing to a healthy housing market as summer approaches and the economy continues what is shaping up to be a rapid recovery.

MONCTON, N.B. — Walmart Canada is building a new distribution centre in Atlantic Canada to ship fresh and frozen groceries to the retailer's 43 stores in the region.

VANCOUVER — Canfor Corp. reported a first-quarter profit of $427.8 million compared with a loss a year ago, boosted by record results in its lumber business and improved results in its pulp and paper operations.

HIGH RIVER, Alta. — COVID-19 vaccination clinics are to begin Thursday at two of Canada's largest beef packing plants in southern Alberta. Both the Cargill plant, near High River south of Calgary, and the JBS Canada facility in Brooks, Alta.

WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats are moving to reinstate regulations designed to limit climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas fields, as part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to tackle climate change.

CALGARY — Alberta is ratcheting up the fight in two COVID-19 hot spots by expanding age eligibility for vaccines and directing delivery of more doses.

TORONTO — Workers in Ontario will soon be able access three paid sick days to help them self-isolate during the pandemic, but critics said the policy announced Wednesday falls far short of what's required to curb the spread of COVID-19.

TORONTO — Some of the most active companies traded Wednesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (19,356.95, up 181.86 points.) Royal Bank of Canada. (TSX:RY). Financials. Up 63 cents, or 0.54 per cent, to $117.74 on 9.

Missing out on Thin Mints in the pandemic? A Google affiliate is using drones to deliver Girl Scout cookies to people's doorsteps in a Virginia community.

MONTREAL — Information technology firm CGI Inc. reported an increase in its second-quarter profit from a year ago, saying the rise was on the back of a steady growth in bookings as clients strengthened digitization efforts during the pandemic.